AMHERST – The town has received $165,539 from the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy for four projects that will ultimately cut energy consumption by nearly 2 percent overall

The town applied for funding for five projects but received funding for four, said

Stephanie Ciccarello, sustainability coordinator. The return on the investment on the fifth project - attic insulation at Town Hall was determined to be too long, she said.

This is the first time the town has applied for money through the green energy communities program. The town received $302,000 when it received the green community designation in 2012.

But now the town must apply for funding for specific projects, Ciccarello said. She said it's competitive and the town was one of 43 communities that received funding. She said the projects have to be complete and the money spent before applying for new grants.

Of the money, $56,031 will be used at Town Hall for demand control ventilation

The other three projects are at the North Fire Station on East Pleasant Street. She said $23,977 will be used for demand control ventilation there; $20,558 for infrared heating conversion in the apparatus room, and $64,973 for wall insulation.

Ciccarello said she doesn't know the exact cost savings because the numbers are based on a 2008 energy assessment but it is expected to reduce consumption by 2 percent in overall, which she said is significant.

The town also recently received $7,500 toward the purchase of an electric vehicle and $10,000 toward the purchase and installation of a dual electric vehicle charging station from the state Department of Environmental Protection Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program. The town has until May of 2015 to purchase those, she said.

The charging station would be the town's first although there are such stations at the University of Massachusetts.